v.
move or cause to move rapidly round and round.
▸move rapidly.
▸(of the head or mind) seem to spin round.
n.
- a rapid movement round and round.
- frantic activity:
the mad social whirl.
- a sweet or biscuit with a spiral shape:
a hazelnut whirl.
Phrase
- give something a whirl
informal give something a try. - in a whirl
in a state of confusion.
Derivative
- whirler n.
- whirling adj.
- whirlingly adv.
Etymology
ME: the verb prob. from ON hvirfla ‘turn about’; the noun partly from Mid. Low Ger., MDu. wervel ‘spindle’, or from ON hvirfill ‘circle’, from a Gmc base meaning ‘rotate’.